Hair curler



Nov. 25,1952 N. RALSTON 9,0 4

HAIR CURLER Filed Feb. 15, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 \f) NANCY L. RALSTON 3nnemor (Ittornegg N. L. RALSTON Nov. 25, 1952 HAIR CURL-ER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1949 NAN CY L RALSTON 3nventor FIG (Ittornegs ALSTON 2,619,094

RRRRRRRR ER NANCY L. RALSTON 3 nnnnn o r (Ittomegs wards the ends of the curlers.

Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT .FFICE HAIR CURLER Nancy L. Ralston, Seattle, Wash. v Application February 15, 1949, Serial No. 76,634

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of permanent waving of the human hair, and more particularly to hair curler.

In exercising my invention I employ a plurality of, preferably plastic curlers, which are formed of substantially circular cross-sections and have a minimum diameter at a mid-point, with the diameter increasing as the distance increases to- A hinged keeper member is provided for holding the initial end of the hair, from which the curl is to be made and at the extreme end of the curler a sheave or spool is provided upon which a cord may be wound for the purpose of turning the curler. To facilitate turning, the curler is provided with a detachable handle, so that the one handle may serve a large number of curlers and when so arranged it is relatively simple for a person to form a curl on the curler using hair from any portion of the head.

While many uses of my curler will occur to those who have special problemasuch as a substitute for the devices used for the overnight curling of the hair, andthe like, the principal use for which my equipment is intended is to facilitate the giving of home permanent waves, whereby a woman may, without assistance, quickly and uniformly curl all of her own hair. some use of my curlers might be profitably enjoyed by professional beauty shops and considerable saving of time could be had under certain conditions due to the fact that there is an inherent characteristic of my method which insures even tension on the hair. When a curlis started and the operator is pulling the small cord'and thereby revolving the curler element itself, it is possible to feel a difference in the tension placed on the hair at one or the other end of the curler, and by adjusting the angle of the curler with respect to the tuft of hair being curled, there is a very natural inclination to so adjust the tension on the curler, that the resultant curl, when formed, is uniformly positioned with respect to the head. This characteristic produces a very pleasing effect, which, while normally intended forthe home permanent patron, will also apply in principle to the curling of hair inbeauty shops. 1

The principal object of my invention, therefore is to provide a methodand means which will assist the user of home permanent waving equipment in producing a pleasing. uniform wave, with a minimum expenditure of time. v

A further object of my invention is to provide a plurality of curlers which may be usedwith a common detachable handle, and when so used,-

the handle is securely positioned with respect to the curler, so that no undue attention must. be given to the two elements when in use.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a spool, about which a cord or thread may be coiled, so that by pullin on the cord, the curler itself will be revolved rapidly and yet be at, all times fully under the control and feelings of the user.

A further Object of my invention is to provide a keeper or clip for my curler which is pivoted thereto and which is provided with means for securely locking the same when in the closed position.

A further object of my invention is to provide convenient means whereby the cord which is used to revolve the curler may also be used to secure the hair in place on the curler after the curl has been formed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method whereby the user of permanent waving equipment may, in her home, quickly give herself a professional appearing permanent wave.

Further objects, advantages, and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of my curlers with the handle used in positioning and rotating the same.

Figure 2 is a bracketed view showing in enlarged sectional view the engaging ends of, my curler and the handle therefor.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle and rotating means associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of my curler with the supporting handle secured thereto, and with certain parts of the handle broken away and shown in section to better illustrate its functional operations.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing certain details, on an enlarged scale, of the spool end of one of my modified curlers.

Figure 8 is a bracketed view showing themean-s employed in securing the keeper or clip element of my curler in place during the hair winding and treating operation. I

Figures 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner ofengaging a nut of hair in my curler.

Figures 11 and 12 are views showing the steps in the winding of the hair upon my curler.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, the numeral [6 designates the main member of my curler. This is substantially circular in cross-section, and with the minimum diameter at its mid-point with the diameter increasing toward each end of the curler base. This general shape is common to many forms of hair curlers. On one side I have my curler base formed flat as at I8, so as to accommodate the keeper or clip portion 20, which is pivoted to the base portion as at 22. One side of clip 20 is flat to conform to the flat side [8. This is shown in the drawing at 24. The balance of the surface of keeper 20 is curved so as to complete the circle formed largely by base portion I6.

Associated with my curler is the positioning handle 24. This handle is shown in sectional view in Figure 3, where it will be noticed that disposed coaxially therewith is a spindle 26, upon which the handle is free to revolve. The spindle is held at the outer end by means of washer 28, over which the end of spindle 26 is riveted. Near the opposite end of the spindle is mounted the spool member 30, having the two annular flanges as 32 and 34. This spool is to accept a cord or thread for purposes which will be apparent later in the description. Fixedly secured to the outer end of spindle 26 is a plate 36. This plate preferably should pass through a slit in the spindle so as to provide wings that extend on each side an equal amount. Extending transversely of plate 36 is a key member as the pressed-in groove member, best shown in Figures 1 and 2 at 38. A portion of spindle 26 extends out beyond plate 36 to provide the bearing portion 40, used to support the curler when in its operating position.

Referring to Figure l and particularly to the right hand portion of Figure 2, the curler itself is bifurcated at its hinge end to provide a slot 42 adapted to receive plate 36. This slot is cut by the axial bore 44, which provides a seat for the extension 46 of spindle 26 and is transversely cut with a round opening at 46, designed to accept and provide a locking means in coaction with the groove 38 formed in plate 36. A cord 43 is knotted as in the recess at 50 to flange member 32 and terminates in a button as at 52. This cord should be long enough to wrap at least a dozen times around spool 36, and this provides the means for revolving the curler after it has been engaged with a tuft of hair.

The other end of the curler, as viewed in Figure '1, is provided with a V opening 54 and at its upper end the transverse slot 42 is Vd at 56, so that when a tuft of hair has been rolled about the curler, a rubber band or thread may be looped around the curl and be secured in these two V portions of the curler. The formation of the end of the curler adjacent V 54, is best illustrated in Figure 8, in which it will be noted that formed as part of the body 16 of the curler, are the two side walls 57 and 58. It will be noted these side walls provide in effect a dovetailed groove, in that the outer edges of the wall are closer together than the bottom or base 59. The keeper 20 has its end formed with the two opposite sides 60 and 62, which are beveled to engage the dovetail formed by sides 51 and 58 and then in order that the side walls may be pressed together so as to enter this dovetailed slot, as it must, due to the hinge action of the keeper, I have slotted the end as at '64, to permit the side walls 60 and 62 to be pressed together. In this way, a very satisfactory lock is provided. It is to be noted that I have provided member l6 with curved ramps as at 65, to engage a similarly curved portion 66 of member 20. This is to insure that a smooth juncture will be obtained at this point and will not present any sharp corners that might become entangled in the hair as the curler is revolved in the winding operation.

In the modified form of my curling means, shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, it will be noted that the spool 30 is formed as part of curler [6. In this form the handle 10 has secured to it the spindle 12 and this spindle extends, as shown by dotted lines at 13, into the body of curler I6 which is free to rotate 0n spindle 12. Then in order to hold the curler to the handle during the winding operation, I provide a spring member seated in recess 14, as the cup spring 16. This is adapted to resiliently engage a bulbous extension 18 of the curler body l6.

Another variation in the modified form is shown in Figures 6 and 7, in which the pivot 22 is formed as detents and BI secured to member 20 and a central slot of wedge shape is provided at 82, so that the two detents can be forced together and then allowed to expand into the pivot openings. When they are in place, a wedge 84, is cemented in place, thus effecting an excellent arrangement, which, in certain sizes, is to be preferred to the through pins showing in the preferred form. I

In Figures 6 and 7 it will further be noted that the flange members are formed with a plurality of notches to assist in securing cord 48 after it has fully revolved the curler.

Method of operation In using my method and equipment reference is made to Figures 9 through 12. In Figure 9 it is to be noted that the handle is in place upon the curler, and the cord 48 is fully wound about the spool or bobbin 3!). The keeper has been raised and this is facilitated by the fact that the extreme end of the keeper preferably extends out beyond the extreme end of the body portion l6 of the curler. In Figure 10 the hair having been passed around the spindle body I6 is then clamped in position by bringing the clip portion 23 around and engaging it in the dove-tailed slot 59. The operator can then, holding handle 24 or 10 in one hand, pull on cord 48 and in so doing, quickly wind the hair onto the curler after the showing of Figure 12. Now particular attention is invited to the fact that the lock of hair H has considerable length and a width substantially that of the length of the hair receiving portion of the curler, consequently if the axis of the curler is not held at right angles to the axis of the lock of hair secured to the user's head, there will be a tendency to pull more at one end of the curler than the other and this will be noted by the user and they can, by adjusting the angle of the longitudinal axis of the curler, overcome the uneven strain and in this way they will provide for a uniform tension throughout the entire curl and this will be ultimately reflected in the improved appearance of the finished curl. The handle is then removed and the hair held in place by a rubber band engaged in Vs 54 and 56. In the modified form the cord 48 is used and the next operation is to pass the cord up to the opposite end of the curler and to there engage it under notch 54 formed in the end of the curler base [6; when this has been done, the cord is then brought forward again. This places two strands of cord 48 on top of the hair and snugly thereto which tends to hold the hair well in place. The surplus ends of cord 48 is then wound about spool 3|) and as a final step in the operation, plug 52 is inserted in bore 13 and the device takes the form where it can undergo any form of treatment desired without fear of disarrangement.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of a method and means for Winding and securing hair on curlers.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A hair curling device, comprising: a spindle; a handle rotatably mounted on one end of said spindle; a curler base removably mounted on the other end of said spindle; a spool mounted on said spindle intermediate said handle and said curler base; said curler base and said spool having means for connecting the same to rotate together; and a cord secured at one end to said spool, to be wound on said spool, and, when a lock of hair has been secured to said curler base, to be unwound by pulling on the free end of the cord thereby winding the lock of hair on said curler base.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the means for connecting said curler base and said spool is a plate running through said spindle between said spool and said curler base; said curler base and said spool having slots in which said plate is positioned; and in which said plate and the curler base have coacting means for removably securing the plate and curler base together.

3. A hair curling device, comprising: a spindle; a. handle rotatably mounted on said spindle; a curler base removably mounted on one end of said spindle and secured thereto to rotate with said spindle, said curler base having means for securing the end of a lock of hair thereto; a spool mounted on said spindle and secured thereto to rotate with said spindle; and a cord secured at one end to said spool and wound thereon, whereby, when a lock of hair has been secured to said curler base, such lock of hair may be wound on said curler base by pulling on the free end of the cord to unwind the cord.

4. A hair curling device, comprising: a spindle; a handle rotatably mounted on said spindle; a curler base removably mounted on one end of said spindle and secured thereto to rotate with said spindle, said curler base having means for securing the end of a lock of hair thereto; a spool-like member mounted on said spindle and secured thereto to rotate with said spindle; and manually-operable means connected to said spool-like member for rotating the same whereby when a lock of hair has been secured to said curler base, such lock of hair may be wound on said curler base by operation of said manuallyoperable means.

NANCY L. RALSTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Number Name Date 459,146 Nicol Sept. 8, 1891 737,431 Marx Aug. 25, 1903 1,117,021 Frey Nov. 10, 1914 1,759,265 Kunin May 20, 1930 1,830,367 McCall Nov. 3, 1931 2,134,486 Leland Oct. 25, 1938 2,146,254 Frederics Feb. '7, 1939 2,395,965 Grant Mar. 5, 1946 2,443,544 Saucier June 15, 1948 

